In a dramatic turn of events, Delhi Ministers Atishi and Gopal Rai have accused Ashwini Kumar, the chairman of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), of unilaterally reversing a cabinet decision regarding pollution control in the city. They said that the Delhi government’s first-of-its-kind study to determine pollution sources in the national capital was halted unilaterally and arbitrarily on his orders.
Atishi stated that the matter would be referred to the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA) and the Lieutenant Governor for a final verdict, news agency PTI reported. Incidentally, Ashwini Kumar also holds the role of member secretary within the NCCSA, presided over by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, with the Chief Secretary of the Delhi government as the third member.
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- Speaking at a joint press conference with Environment Minister Gopal Rai, Atishi alleged that Kumar, who also holds the position of Principal Secretary (Home), had overruled the cabinet’s decision without consulting the relevant minister. Rai recommended Kumar’s suspension in response to these allegations, PTI reported.
- According to Atishi, in July 2021, the Delhi Cabinet had endorsed a real-time apportionment study aimed at identifying sources of pollution in the city. This study involved collaboration with prestigious institutions such as IIT Kanpur, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER).
A dedicated site in central Delhi equipped with advanced instrumentation was established to collect data through chemical and mathematical modeling. Furthermore, a study lab for real-time apportionment data collection was set up in November 2022. Notably, this study revealed that one major source of pollution in the city was the use of “angithi” (braziers) by security guards and others, PTI reported.
- In a sharp critique, Atishi questioned how the DPCC chairman could suspend the real-time apportionment study without the cabinet’s consent, accusing Delhi government officials of obstructing public welfare work following the passage of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act 2023.
- Environment Minister Gopal Rai weighed in on the matter, saying that DPCC Chairman Ashwani Kumar, who assumed his role in December, voiced concerns about the substantial expenses associated with the study in a file note dated February of this year. Following several meetings with scientists from IIT-Kanpur, Kumar issued orders on October 18 to stop further disbursement of funds to the institute. This effectively cancelled the pollution study, Rai asserted.
“For this study, the Delhi government in 2021 had sanctioned Rs 12 crore. The report we got this year stated different sources and their contribution to pollution in Delhi. But this year, DPCC chairman Ashwini Kumar stopped this study in October. Rs 10 crores had been paid for equipment needed to conduct the study and Rs 2 crores more needed to be paid. Since the last week, the study has been stopped. A cabinet decision is not followed, and a study is stopped. We have written to the CM to take immediate action against Ashwini Kumar and to resume the study,” he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
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Gopal Rai called upon Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to suspend Ashwani Kumar due to his alleged insensitive and irresponsible behaviour. He also claimed that Kumar’s actions disregarded scientific research, put the lives of Delhi’s two crore residents at risk, and violated established the Transaction of Business Rules as he neither informed the Environment Minister nor the Cabinet about his decision. The minister urged the immediate release of the remaining payment for the study and committed to review its results with prominent scientists after the winter.
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“Ashwani Kumar’s standpoint seems to be rooted in the belief that Delhi’s pollution primarily stems from internal factors and not from external sources such as biomass burning. However, he has not provided any scientific basis for his conclusions,” Gopal Rai asserted while adding that Kumar’s actions indicate a willingness to sabotage a project crucial for addressing Delhi’s air quality issues, without regard for the city’s residents or respect for scientific research.
- Regarding the pollution level in the national capital, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told ANI, “We are analysing our data, it shows that PM 10 – dust pollution – is going down in Delhi. Anti-dust campaign has been run across Delhi and all areas are being focussed on. Water sprinkling is being done. So, PM 10 is going down but PM 2.5 is going up.”
According to the minister, Vehicular pollution and pollution caused due to biomass burning outside play a major role in PM 2.5 going up. The AAP government has called a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat regarding preparations for the public awareness campaign – ‘Red Light On, Gaadi Off’ that will be started on October 26, he informed.
- Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged politicisation of the issue as he told ANI: ” Pollution is a problem related to the whole of north India. The Central government along with all states needs to make long-term plans to tackle pollution. To say, that a small state like Delhi is causing pollution in the entire north India, is petty politics.”
- New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice Chairman Satish Upadhyay targetted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claiming, “Delhi government is totally corrupted and they are not interested in doing any work, they just talk and put blame on others… either he(Arvind Kejriwal) doesn’t attend NDMC meeting or he adjourns the meeting and runs away… He never gives answers to questions.”
“He used to blame Punjab during the Akali Dal citing stubble burning. Now, 500+ stubble-burning cases have been reported from Punjab where there is an AAP government, and 100+ cases from Haryana…when will the AAP government take action? After Delhi turns into a gas chamber? or When people fall sick?” he remarked.
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